It's finally happened. Random drug testing in mixed martial arts is now going to be standard practice according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. In an unprecedented move for the MMA and combative sports community, fighters will now be tested randomly if they are currently licensed in the state of Nevada and if they are applying for licenses.
According to MMAWeekly, the guidelines are as follows:
Selection of licensees for testing will be made in one of three ways:
1. Fighters may be randomly chosen for testing.
2. If there is some indication that a fighter is taking a non-approved substance, they may be tested.
3. If a fighter has previously tested positive for using a non-approved substance, they may be tested.
A fighter chosen for testing will be contacted by the Commission directly and given details on the ordering of the test and the timeframe within which testing must occur. Efforts will also be made to contact the fighter’s promoter with that information.
If the test is not completed within the designated timeframe or if a fighter fails the test, the Commission may refuse to license the fighter, it may not allow the fighter to compete, and/or the fighter may be subject to disciplinary action.
In other words, if a fighter looks like he's a monsterous behemoth, he's most likely going to be tested for steroids. If a fighter shows signs of being on steroids such as aggressive attitude, the acne all over his back, etc., I'm sure the commission will test them.
The guidelines give free reign for the commission to test pretty much anyone, so we will either see the same amount of positives regardless of the testing because people have begun to stop using, or we will see a horrendous amount of positives.
My thoughts
This is a great thing for mixed martial arts for one very good reason. It brings about a level playing field once again. Sure, some fighters will slip through the cracks, but for the most part, it'll be "mano y mano" once again without the help of a drug.
It will also help keep fighters safe, keep fighter's health safe, and it should help prevent the grim outlook that baseball and other sports have gained from high profile athletes being connected with steroids.
On the other side of the spectrum, it'll cost the NSAC more money to keep this ongoing, and could potentially hurt its revenues. It could also stop big fights from happening in the UFC because with steroids gone, injuries will most likely increase.
In any case, I don't see how this is ever going to be a bad thing for the sport. Steroids don't belong in the UFC or any MMA organization, and if you want to be in the UFC, you will be fighting in Nevada at some point. NSAC is sending a message, and the CSAC should follow suit. Get the ball rolling on sending a big message to fighters out there. Dana White did say it best when he said that if you do steroids, you're a "f*cking idiot".